At last the big egg cracked wide open. Out popped a big grey duckling. The mother duck looked at him. "Oh my!" she said. "You aren't like the others, maybe you ARE a turkey! Let's see if you can swim."

The ducklings dunked their heads and paddled their feet. The big grey duckling could float like a boat and paddle like a champ. "No turkey can swim like that!" said the mother duck. She watched him glide over the water. He was her big grey duckling after all.

"Come with me," said the mother duck. "I'll take you to meet the flock." The ducklings swam in a line across the lake. Lots of ducks came to meet the new ducklings. "Five fine ducklings are here to join the flock!" said the mother duck.

The four little ducklings soon felt at home, but the ugly duckling did not. he was kicked and pecked and pushed and chased. "Leave him alone!" said the mother duck. But the others would not stop. Even his brothers and sisters picked on the ugly duckling.

Autumn came. One day, the ugly duckling saw a flock of white birds. They swooped and swirled through the sky. The ugly duckling had never seen such birds before. He loved them. He wanted the birds to stay with him.

Snow started to fall. All the lakes and marshes froze. Winter winds blew. The ugly duckling had a hard time. Eventually, the days grew warmer. The ugly duckling stretched in the spring sunshine. He flapped his strong wings. Soon he was flying.